Independence Day is right around the corner so that means more shout-outs and greetings from down range. I spent 13 months in Iraq, and during my tour I sent shout-outs back home to my dad on Father’s Day, to my mom on Mother’s Day, to my son on Christmas and I think I even sent a shout-out to the St. Louis Cardinals once.

The whole shout-out experience is actually pretty funny. Soldiers line up and wait their turn to step in front of the camera. Once they get up there some Soldiers stumble over their words, some forget what they were going to say, some can’t stop laughing and others just freeze.

Staff Sgt. Anaidy G. Claudio, an Army Broadcast Journalist, lines up her camera at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Army Broadcasters film Soldier holiday shout-outs all around the world. Photo by Sgt. David J. Nunn.

Independence day is round the corner and I wait to what our brave heart soldiers are trying to do this time around to commemorate this glorious occasion. It is really amusing to see soldiers stammering in front of camera but I hope you will all do something different this time.

Dana LIneback

I’m currently in training at Defense Information School, training to be a Public Affairs Officer. We practice to do on-camera interviews, and it’s always unnerving to be infront of a camera. Best piece of advice we received was to imagine the camera is someone specific, like Mom! By the way, as a future PAO, thanks to the DVIDS for this awesome opportunity for service members to connect with their families!